CWG opening ceremony damages running track and infield
The opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games, held on Sunday in Delhi, was considered impressive by many, but it has taken a toll on the running track and the infield in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
There were three layers of a protective covering that was designed to hold 10,000 tonnes. But 7,000 performers, and a lot of heavy equipment, managed to cause damage to the track and field anyway.
“It is the key stadium and therefore we are very, very worried,” said an organising committee official.
The athletics competition is scheduled to start on Wednesday, but repairs to the damaged areas have not even started as of Tuesday because the contractors have not received security clearance.
“We are talking to the Delhi Police to secure more access passes so that the work can be completed in time,” said the official.
There have been threats of terrorist attacks during the games, and some athletes have been warned to not wear their country’s colours outside of the athlete’s village because of kidnapping concerns. As
a result the security levels have been raised significantly.
Already some athletes have been forced to wait at checkpoints because of forgotten identification, and Australian sports minister Mark Arbib was forced to walk for a kilometre after his car was not allowed
into a protected area.
Both athletes and spectators have had few complaints about the heightened security levels, knowing that it’s ultimately for their own protection, but if the events are delayed or cancelled because of security
concerns it will not go over as lightly.
There were many problems leading up to the Games which prompted a rather large booing of Suresh Kalmadi, the Commonwealth Games’ organising committee chief, at the opening ceremonies. If problems persist
throughout the Games, it stands to be a considerable disaster for Delhi and the Commonwealth Games.
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